Citation

McIntosh SE, Salcedo-Dovi H, Cortes V. J. Emerg. Med. 2006; 31(1): 33-35.

Affiliation

Department of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jemermed.2005.08.014

PMID

16798151

Abstract

Air in the spinal canal after trauma is uncommon. We report a case of a motor vehicle accident resulting in a thoracic fracture-dislocation. Air was discovered within the spinal canal on a computed tomography (CT) scan. This injury pattern proved to be a diagnostic dilemma because multiple etiologies existed. Pneumothorax, ruptured esophagus, facial sinus fractures, and herniated vertebral discs can result in this entity.

Language: en